Wrench.



L. E. WEGNER.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT, 19. 1911.

1 77, 1 62, Patented Au 27, 1918..

2 SHEETS-SHEET L. E. WEGNER.

RENCH.

APPHCAT lLED OCT. l 19]]. 1,277,162. Patented Aug. 27, 8.

2 SHEETS SHEE To all whom a may comm Be it known that I Lnwrs E,

lowingis a specification. One object of my'invention is to provide a relatively simple, substantial andpractical form of slidingjaw wrench which may be quickly adjusted to suit it :to operate upon objects ofwidely varying sizes and which shall he nonetheless positivei-n actionand' not likely to get out of: order. I further desire'to provide. a wrench o the type noted with novel means for moving and thereafter holding its sliding jaw in any desired position; the invention contemplating a novel construction of operating handle and holding means designed to cooperate with the sliding element.

It is further-desired to provide -a 'wrench of the type noted with a movable jaw of novel form and method of action,'together "with a novel form of operating handle and Figs.- 4 and 5'are transverse sections on the lines 1-4 'and55, respectively, Fig. 1,

Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are perspective VIQWS' of certain of the principal parts of the wrench Figs. 10 and 11are perspective views of the two supplementary aws with their pivot pins which may be employed in connection with the main jaws of the wrench;

Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views of the holding pawl and of the toothed adjust ing wheel respectively;

Fig. 14 is a pivot pin; :Fig 1 5 LS a side ele ation partl 111 secperspective view of the main citizen of the United states, residing in-Hot Springs, Garland county, State of Arkansas,

have inventedWrenches, ofjwhichthe fol- .j ts at a relative m m... mes 0ctoberi9,\1917. ee-m1 in. 197,881,

- tion illustratinga modification invention ;,-andf l Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a. special form of auxiliaryaw- In the above drawings, 1 represents the shank or. body'pf the wrench which at one end has a portion 2 {projecting to one side and constituting a xed jaw. The main' .portion of 'the shank: is preferably ofrectangular section and on that side 'from which the jaw 2 projects, is provided with aseries of teeth 3 whichare preferably. made with sides pr jecting parallel to the. jaw and inclined or \hshaped ends.

On this shank or body of the wrench is mounted a sliding or adjustable jaw 4 which has an opening for the reception of said shank of greater length than the transverse breadthof the shank andincludes a rearwardly projecting arm 5 which at its. rear end isperforated for the passage of a transverse pivot'pin. or screw 6' for the attachment of'a stirru .7 and the forks or arms of anoperating liandle 8. Said stirrup is of U-shaped section so as to extend around the shank land has fixed to it adjacent the back face .of said shank. a convex spring .plate 7 whose .ends are bent as shown in order to ermanentlyretain'it on said stirrup'. It. 1s noted that the holefor the. pivot pin 6- extends through the sides of the stirrup to one side. of the centerline thereof,

and said. sides fit snugly against the sides of the handle so as to 1n some degree assist the spring 11 tohold the pawl 9 in engagement wit the teeth 3 when the jaws grip an object'and also to frictionally resist the automatic release of the wrench.

While the main, or outer portion of the handle Sis (preferably of U-shaped section, its inner en has the form of two parallel plates, between which, on theupper side of the pivot pin 6, is 'ivoted. or journaled a holding pawl 9. This latter has the general.

shape of a triangular prism and on one face has aseries of teeth, preferably ,ofthe same shape or section as and designed to coact with, the teeth 3 of the shank 1. This pawl is so mounted on the handle S-that when the latter is swung on its pivot 6, into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein it prolarge angle to the shank said handle may be swun shank and therefore the distance that the of the wrench, the toothedface of saidpawl is separated from and completely clears the toothed portion of theshank. The distance out from the pawl 9 may be moved away from theteeth 3 is limited by a toothed wheel 10, pivoted between the side plates of the handle 8 on the opposite side of the pin 6 from the pawl 9;the arrangement being suoh that said wheel, which coiiperates with sald shank, comes into engagement with the latter when the handle 8. has been turned to swing the pawl its maximum distance away from the teeth 3.

Within the handle 8 and extending longitudinally thereof I provide a flat spring 11 which at one end is riveted or otherwise suitably fixed to it, While its opposite end which engages the rear or untoothed face of the shank 1 so as to-return the handle 8 to its open or spread position, has fixed to its movable jaws 2 and 4 for certain purposes may be plane or flat, I preferably mount on them a pair of auxiliary jaws 13 and 14 preferably of identical form and hold them in place by pins 15 and 16. One form of such auxiliary jaws has toothed faces (Figs. 10 and 11), or it may have gripping teeth of stepped form for gripping a pipe as shown at 30 in Fig. 15, or in some cases the jaws may be formed to serve-as a vise as indicated at 31 in Fig. 16.

It is to be noted that the shank 1 of the wrench loosely fits the opening 19 of the movable jaw 4 so that the latter may have a limited swing on its pivot 6 in order that its work-engaging face shallengage and properly conform to the shape of an object to i be gripped. For this dpurpose said openin is abruptly contracts at its forward en .to form fulcrum edges 32 and 33 and flares rearwardly from these latter as shown in Figs. 2 to 4' inclusive.

In order to adjust the sliding jaw on the Q shank 1', the handle 8 is brought to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and said jaw is moved parallel to the line of the shank 1,

either by force applied directly to itor by the operatorturning the toothed wheel 10 by a finger or thumb. When the movable jaw has been brought to the desir d. position which will permit an object to be loosely gripped between the jaws, forced toward the shank 1, with the result that'the toothed face of the pawl 9 is first brought into engagement with the teeth 3 after which the pivot pin 6 acts upon the projecting arm 5 of the jaw to swing -it on 1ts fulcrum edge 32 gaging face farther toward the fixed jaw.

If forany reason it be desired to maintam the jaws in their work-engagin' positions, I provide a link 20 detacha ly or otherwise mounted in a slot or hole 21 in the lower or outer end of the shank and turn it so that it fits over the free end of the handle 8 thereby holding the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3. It is to be noted however that with the construction of spring 11 illustrated, the pawl remains in engagement with the teeth 3 even after the handle has been released,.so that while the movable jaw releases the object previously gripped, the general adjustment of said aw is not affected. To accomplish such adjustment the handle is turned to its extreme outer position so that its relation to the stirrup 7 is altered and the pawl lifted bodily away from the teeth 3. There is therefore no friction on or interference with the free movement of the slidable jaw on the shank 1 as longas the handle is maintained in its outer or open position, since the cross arms of the piece 12 are then supported by the side plates of the latter and hold said spring away from the adjacent surface of the shank.

In certain cases, especially when the wrench is of comparatively large size, I may provide a spring tooth 22 on the, rear or lower end of the arm 5 of the slidable jaw and hold it in place by a sprin washer 24 and a pivot screw or bolt 23. his tooth is so formed that it is rotatably on said bolt to the rear of the toothed wheel '10 and when the handle 8 is in its 0 en or outer position it may be turned to said bolt into or out of engagement with the teeth 3 of the shank.

the handle 8 is and move its work-en-' When so engaged the movement of the handle toward the shank first moves the pawl '9 into engagement with the teeth 3 and then as the movable jaw 4 is swung toward the fixed jaw 2, causes the spring tooth 22 to drag over one of said teeth into engagement with the next tooth in front of the same. Thereafter the swinging out of-the handle frees the pawl 9 from theteeth 3 and its subsequent moving toward the shank causes said pawl to again engage said teeth one tooth in advance of its original position. 'It

is thus possible to gradually and intermittently move the jaw 4 toward the jaw 2 merely by oscillating the handle 8.

I- claim:

1. The combination in a wrench of a" toothed shank having a relatively fixed jaw; a mo able jaw slidable on the shank and having a projecting arm; a stirrup extendposition .to engage the teeth of the shank when said handle is operated. x

2. The combination 'in a, Wrench of a toothed shank having a relatively fixed aw;

a movable jaw slidableon the shank. and having a projecting arm, sald latteraw having an opening with a fulcrum edge therein for the shank; a stirrup extending around the shank; an operating handle; a

pivotconnecting'xthe arm, the stirru and the handle; and apawl on the handle in position t engage the teethLof the shank when ,said handle is operated.

3."The. combination in a wrench olf a toothed shank having arelativelyfixed jaw. a movable jaw slidable on the'shank and ing a' projectinggarm;- a stirrup extending around the shan an o erating handle havmg branches frictiona 1y engaged by the sides of thestirrup; a pivot connecting the in position to engage the teeth-of the shank when said handle is operated; and a toothed wheel mounted to cooperate with the teeth of the shank to move the slidable jaw and handle thereon. I p

5. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank having a relatively fixed jaw; a movable jaw slidable on the shank and having a projecting arm; astirrup extending around the shank; an operating handle; a pivot connecting; the arm, the stirrup and the handle; a pawl mounted on the handle in position to engage the teeth of the shank when said handle isoperated;

f and a toothed wheel also coiiperatmg with the teeth of the shank for moving the slidable jaw and handle thereon, the toothed pawl being on one side of the pivot and the toothed wheel on the opposite side thereof.- 6. The. combination in a wrench of atoothed shank havin' a relatively fixed aw;

a movable jaw slidab e on said shank; a stirrup forthe movable jaw; a handle pivotally connected to. the movable jaw; and a pawl and a toothed wheel mounted on the handle, said pawl being ositioned to engage the teeth of the shank engaged therefrom and vice versa. 1

7. The combination in awrench of: a shank having teeth on one face and a fixed jaw projecting from said face; a movable armilthe stirrupand the handle; and a pawl when the wheel is disjaw slidable on the shank; a forked handle projecting from the side of the shank opposite that aving the teeth; a pivot connecting the forks of the handle to the movable jaw adjacent. the teeth of the shank; a

stirrup connected to the handle by. said pivot; and a pawl mounted on the handle in positionto engage the teeth of the shank and ositioned to coiiperate with the teeth of sald shank; and a spring on the handle normall maintaining-it in position inclined to the line of the shank.

9. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank having a fixed jaw; a movable jaw slidable'on said shank; a handle having portions extending on opposite sides of .the shank and pivoted to-said movable jaw; a pawl on the handle in position to cooperate with the teeth of the shank; a spring carried by the handle and operative on the shank to move said handle with the pawl to a shank disengaging position; and means for preventing operation of the spring on the shank when the handle is in the jaw-releasing position. i j

10. The combination .in a wrench of a toothed shank having a relatively fixed jaw; amovable' jaw-slidable on said shank and having a projecting arm; a forked handle pivoted to said arm; a pawl carried by said handle in position to coiiperate with the teeth of the shank; a flat sprin on the handle projecting toward the shan with a member connected to the spring and operative on the handle to hold said spring'out of engagement with the shank when the handle is in the j aw-releasing position, said member orsald shank; a 8 ,site sides of the shank and pivoted to said movable jaw; a pawl carried by the handle -on the same side of the shank as said jaws consisting of a. cross piece engaging the branches of the handle" to limit movement of said spring toward the shank,

- .11. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank having-a fixed jaw; a jaw rnovable on said shank and having a projecting arm; a stirrup and a handle concentrically pivoted to said arm; a pawl mounted on the handle in ate with the teeth of the shank a spring on the handle in position to resist movement thereof in one direction relative to the positionto coiipershank having a relatively fixed'j aw and proable jaw slidable on the shank and having a projecting arm; a handle pivoted to the arm; a pawl pivoted to said handle; and a stirrup extending around the shank and also pivoted to the handle.

13. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank having a 'fixed jaw; a movable jaw-slidable on the shank; a handle pivoted to said latter jaw; a stirrup also pivoted to the handle and-extending around the shank; a pawl carried by the handle inposition to engagethe teeth of the shank;

and a spring between the stirrup and the shank 14. The combination in awrench of a vided with teeth; a movable jaw slidable on said shank; a handle pivoted to said movable jaw; a pawl carried by the handlevin" position to cooperate with the teeth of the shank; and -a toothed member mounted on the movable jaw in position to also. cooperate with the teeth of the shank.

15. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank having a fixed jaw; a movable jaw slidable on said shank and having a projectingarm; a tooth mounted on said arm in position to cooperate with the teeth of the shank; a handle pivoted to said arm; and a pawl on said handle in position to also cooperate with the teeth of the shank.

16. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank having a fixed jaw; a slidable jaw on the shank; a handle; a pivot con necting said handle to the slidable j aw; and two toothed members mounted on the handle eccentrically to the pivotin position for either of them but not both to engage the teeth of i the shank when said handle is moved through an angle of less than 90.

17. The combination in a wrench of a shank; fixed and movable jaws on said shank; a handle pivoted to the movable jaw; a pawl carried by the handle in position to engage the shank when said handle is in one posltion; and means carried by the movable jaw for holding it from movement when said pawl is released. from the shank.

.18. The combination in a wrench of a shank; fixed and movable jaws on said shank; a handle pivoted to the movable jaw;

a pawl carried by the handle in position to engage the shank when said handle is in one pos1t1on; and a second pawl carried by the movable jaw for preventing it from moving pawl is released from the able on the shank and including a.second,;

jawfa handle movably connected to saidffrj member and operative to hold to the shank? when in one position; and means for pre-;;-.;

venting movement of said jaw-carrying inember when the handle is in another posi-v 1on.

'20. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank; a fixed jaw thereon; a member slidable on the shank and including a second jaw; a tooth. carried b said member in position to cooperate W1th: the teeth of'the shank; a handle pivoted to the member; and a pawl carried by the handle and also cooperative with the teeth of the shank.-

21. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank; a fixed jaw thereon; a member slidable on the shank and including a second jaw; a tooth carried by said member in position to coiiperate with the teeth of the shank; a handle pivoted to the member; and a pawl carried by the handle and also cooperative with the teeth of the shank, said tooth being adjustable relatively to the jawcarrying member into and out of a shankengaging position.

22. The combination in a wrench of a toothed shank; a fixed jaw thereon; a member slidable on the shank and including a second jaw; a spring tooth carried by said member in position to cooperate with the teeth of the shank; a handle pivoted to the member; and a pawl carried by the handle and also coiiperative with the teeth of the shank.

In witness whereofI aflix my si a'ture;

LEWIS E. WE NER. 

